Technology
San Francisco Chinatown Gets Free Fiber for Hundreds of Homes
A state-funded project set to begin construction in March 2026 will bring free fiber connections to hundreds of unserved public and affordable housing locations.
How we reported this
Construction on a $10.3 million state-funded project to deliver free fiber internet to Chinatown’s public and affordable housing is scheduled to begin in March 2026, connecting 434 unserved locations.
Current gaps in service
Almost half of San Francisco Chinatown households, or 44 percent, lack a broadband internet subscription. Residents who do have access often face slow and unreliable service because only one of nine broadband providers offers high-speed cable and fiber remains virtually nonexistent. In 2021 the median recorded broadband speed stood at 59 Mbps download and 10 Mbps upload, well below the federal recommendation of 100 Mbps download and 25 Mbps upload. Higher prices tied to limited options compound the problem for many households.
Recent public access gains
The first phase of free public #SFWiFi launched in early 2025 along Grant Avenue from Bush to Broadway, at St. Mary’s Square and Portsmouth Square, and inside the affordable housing complex Ping Yuen serving 234 families. These sites provided an initial layer of public connectivity while planners prepared the larger fiber rollout.
The March 2026 project will extend fiber directly into additional public and affordable housing buildings, addressing locations that currently have no service. Local organizations have also run digital literacy classes at sites such as Ping Yuen to help residents use new connections once they come online.
With construction slated to start next March, the focus now turns to completing the fiber links and integrating them with existing public Wi-Fi points. Residents and property managers can prepare by confirming building access needs and watching for notices from the city on installation schedules.